Beagle
Beagles are scenthounds, meaning they live to use their nose. They’re a comfortable size to tote around in your car, simple to groom, and their exercise needs are easily met with a long, meandering walk that gives them plenty of time to sniff.
With a compact size, easy-care coat and happy nature, the Beagle has long had a place as one of the most popular breeds for families. Beagles are also used as scent detection dogs at U.S. airports, where their friendliness allows them to search for weapons, drugs, and illegal food items without making passengers nervous the way a larger “police dog” might. The breed was developed in England to hunt rabbits, and Beagles are still happiest when following their noses. For that reason, they belong to a category of dogs known as scenthounds.
Don’t let the small size or undeniable charm of the Beagle fool you: these dogs are still born to hunt. They’ve been described as "a nose with four legs," and they love following a scent trail. The minute they smell something interesting they're likely to follow their noses rather than their owners' requests.
There are some things you should be aware of before you bring a Beagle home. The most important thing to know is that Beagles are ruled by their nose. A Beagle will follow an interesting scent wherever it leads him, across busy streets and miles from home, so a fenced yard is essential to keep him safe.
A related bit of information is that Beagles love to eat. Love it! And they are creative about finding and accessing food. Experienced owners put food, trash cans and anything else that might appear or smell edible to a Beagle well out of reach. On the plus side, that love of food comes in handy for training Beagles. They’ll do just about anything for a treat.
Beagles come in two sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch. The smaller variety includes Beagles who are no taller than 13 inches at the shoulder and weigh 22 to 30 pounds, while the larger variety includes Beagles who are taller than 13 inches but not more than 15 inches and weigh up to 35 pounds.
All Beagles sport a short, clean coat that’s usually some combination of black, white and tan. Their small to medium size is a plus for families – they’re the perfect shape for a child to hug – but the Beagle has no idea that he’s anything but a full-sized hound, and he has the loud bay of a full-sized hound to prove it!
Beagles are pack animals, becoming very attached to their human "pack," and are well-suited to a variety of active families. They are a great choice for families with children. Singles and couples who love the outdoors also match up well with this breed, and his size and even temperament make the Beagle a great companion for active seniors who love to walk but don’t mind going at a slow pace to allow the Beagle to sniff to his heart’s content.
With adequate exercise and opportunities to work their sniffers, these versatile companions can handle anything from a small city apartment to a vast ranch. They're not suited for life in the backyard or a doghouse, but need to live indoors as a member of the family.
If you give him opportunities to use his nose, whether that means letting him spend a lot of time sniffing on walks, taking him hunting, or training him for nose work or tracking, a Beagle will be a wonderful companion. The best thing about a Beagle is that he will always make you laugh — even when he’s being naughty.
Other Quick Facts
Beagles come in two sizes; both sizes of Beagles can be born in a single litter. If you want to be sure you get one of a certain size, wait to purchase a puppy until he is about nine months old.
Beagles bred for hunting are more likely to be noisy and active than Beagles bred for the show ring.
You might not think so when you are trying to train him, but the Beagle is very smart in the sense that he is a good problem-solver. He might not respond instantly to your commands, but he will quickly figure out how to overcome any obstacles that are preventing him from getting something he wants.
Beagles need daily exercise and mental stimulation in the form of sniffing. Without it they can become bored and destructive. Provide them with the attention, training and activity they need or suffer the consequences.
Shyness and aggression are not common Beagle characteristics. Do not choose a puppy who shows signs of these behaviors.
The History of Beagles
The Beagle originated in England. His heritage stretches back to the packs of hunting hounds kept by landed gentry to hunt deer and hare. Beagle-like scenthounds were known as far back as 1475, when the word “Beagle” was first used to describe this type of hunting dog. It’s a matter of debate whether the name comes from a Celtic word meaning “small” or a French word meaning “open mouth” or “loud mouth.” Given the Beagle’s propensity for baying when he catches an interesting scent on the wind, the latter theory seems most likely.
Early Beagles looked different depending on the type of ground over which they were expected to hunt. Houndsmen who lived in the gentle countryside of southern England produced slow and ponderous dogs. Beagles from the rougher terrain of Britain’s border with Scotland were agile with lots of endurance. In the early nineteenth century, breeders worked to standardize the breed so they would have a more uniform appearance and temperament. But even today, they aren’t that different from the Beagles of 200 years ago. If one of those dogs were to come forward into the future, you would still recognize him as a Beagle, and the same is true if a modern Beagle were to be transported to the past.
Fine Beagles were imported from England to the United States, and the breed made it big in North America. Beagles have lived in the White House — Him and Her were often seen walking President Lyndon B. Johnson on the grounds of the Executive Mansion — and a comic strip dog, Snoopy, is arguably the best-known Beagle in the world. Giving Snoopy a run for his money is a Beagle named Uno, more formally known as Ch. K-Run’s Park Me in First, who in 2008 became the first Beagle to win Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club. Since then, Uno has traveled the United States with his buddy David Frei, serving as an ambassador for therapy dogs and Beagles everywhere.
The Beagle today is an easy-going dog with a strong hunting instinct. The breed standard says he can be any hound color, including tricolor, red and white, and lemon. The National Beagle Club offers information as well as breeder and rescue referral. The United Beagle Gundog Federation is the place to go if you’re interested in hunting or field trialing your Beagle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle
Related Communities
Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
Aidi
Airedale Terrier
Akbash
Akita Inu
Alano Español
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
Alaskan Klee Kai
Alaskan Malamute
Alpine Dachsbracke
American Akita
American Alsatian
American Bulldog
American Bully
American Eskimo
American Foxhound
American Hairless Terrier
American Mastiff
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Anatolian Shepherd
Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie
Antebellum Bulldog
Appenzeller Sennenhund
Ariege Pointer
Ariegeois
Armant
Armenian Gampr
Artois Hound
Australian Bulldog
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Kelpie
Australian Shepherd
Australian Silky Terrier
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Australian Terrier
Austrian Black and Tan Hound
Austrian Pinscher
Azawakh
Bakharwal
Barbet
Basenji
Basque Shepherd
Basset Artésien Normand
Basset Bleu de Gascogne
Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Basset Hound
Bavarian Mountain Hound
Beagle-Harrier
Bearded Collie
Beauceron
Bedlington Terrier
Belgian Sheepdog
Belgian Shepherd (Groenendael)
Belgian Shepherd (Laekenois)
Belgian Shepherd (Malinois)
Belgian Shepherd (Tervuren)
Bergamasco Shepherd
Berger Picard
Berner Laufhund
Bernese Mountain
Bichon Frisé
Billy
Bisben
Black and Tan Coonhound
Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound
Black Norwegian Elkhound
Black Russian Terrier
Blackmouth Cur
Bloodhound
Blue Lacy
Bluetick Coonhound
Boerboel
Bohemian Shepherd
Bolognese
Border Collie
Border Terrier
Borzoi
Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound
Boston Terrier
Bouvier des Ardennes
Bouvier des Flandres
Boxer
Boykin Spaniel
Bracco Italiano
Braque d'Auvergne
Braque du Bourbonnais
Braque du Puy
Braque Francais
Braque Saint-Germain
Brazilian Terrier
Briard
Briquet Griffon Vendéen
Brittany
Broholmer
Bruno Jura Hound
Bucovina Shepherd
Bull Terrier
Bull Terrier (Miniature)
Bulldog
Bulldog Campeiro
Bullmastiff
Bully Kutta
Cairn Terrier
Canaan
Canadian Eskimo
Cane Corso
Cão da Serra de Aires
Cão de Castro Laboreiro
Cão Fila de São Miguel
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Carolina
Carpathian Shepherd
Catahoula Cur
Catalan Sheepdog
Caucasian Shepherd
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Central Asian Shepherd
Cesky Fousek
Cesky Terrier
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chien Français Blanc et Noir
Chien Français Blanc et Orange
Chien Français Tricolore
Chihuahua
Chilean Fox Terrier
Chinese Chongqing
Chinese Crested
Chinese Imperial
Chinook
Chippiparai
Chow Chow
Cierny Sery
Cimarrón Uruguayo
Cirneco dell'Etna
Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Collie
Combai
Coton de Tulear
Coydog
Cretan Hound
Croatian Sheepdog
Curly Coated Retriever
Cursinu
Czechoslovak Wolfdog
Dachshund
Dalmatian
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Danish Swedish Farmdog
Deutsche Bracke
Doberman Pinscher
Dogo Argentino
Dogo Guatemalteco
Dogo Sardesco
Dogue de Bordeaux
Drentse Patrijshond
Drever
Dunker
Dutch Shepherd
Dutch Smoushond
East Siberian Laika
East-European Shepherd
Elo
English Coonhound
English Foxhound
English Mastiff
English Setter
English Shepherd
English Springer Spaniel
English Toy Spaniel
English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
Épagneul Bleu de Picardie
Estonian Hound
Estrela Mountain
Eurasier
Field Spaniel
Fila Brasileiro
Finnish Hound
Finnish Lapphund
Finnish Spitz
Flat Coated Retriever
Formosan Mountain Dog
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
Fox Terrier (Wire)
French Brittany
French Bulldog
French Spaniel
Galgo Espanol
Gascon Saintongeois
German Longhaired Pointer
German Pinscher
German Shepherd
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Spaniel
German Spitz
German Wirehaired Pointer
Giant Schnauzer
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Gran Mastín de Borínquen
Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir
Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange
Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
Grand Bleu de Gascogne
Grand Griffon Vendéen
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Greek Harehound
Greenland
Greyhound
Griffon Bleu de Gascogne
Griffon Bruxellois
Griffon Fauve de Bretagne
Griffon Nivernais
Gull Dong
Gull Terr
Hamiltonstövare
Hanover Hound
Harrier
Havanese
Himalayan Sheepdog
Hokkaido
Hortaya Borzaya
Hovawart
Hungarian Hound
Hygenhund
Ibizan Hound
Icelandic Sheepdog
Indian Spitz
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Wolfhound
Istrian Coarse-haired Hound
Istrian Shorthaired Hound
Italian Greyhound
Jack Russell Terrier
Jagdterrier
Jämthund
Japanese Chin
Japanese Spitz
Japanese Terrier
Jonangi
Kai Ken
Kaikadi
Kangal
Kanni
Karakachan
Karelian Bear Dog
Karst Shepherd
Keeshond
Kerry Beagle
Kerry Blue Terrier
King Charles Spaniel
King Shepherd
Kintamani
Kishu
Komondor
Kooikerhondje
Koolie
Korean Jindo
Korean Mastiff
Kromfohrländer
Kunming Wolfdog
Kuvasz
Kyi-Leo
Labrador Husky
Labrador Retriever
Lagotto Romagnolo
Lakeland Terrier
Lancashire Heeler
Landseer
Lapponian Herder
Large Münsterländer
Leonberger
Lhasa Apso
Lithuanian Hound
Longhaired Whippet
Löwchen
Magyar Agár
Maltese
Manchester Terrier
Maremma Sheepdog
McNab
Mexican Hairless
Miniature Australian Shepherd
Miniature Fox Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
Miniature Schnauzer
Mioritic
Montenegrin Mountain Hound
Moscow Watchdog
Mountain Cur
Mountain View Cur
Mucuchies
Mudhol Hound
Mudi
Murray River Curly Coated Retriever
Native American Indian Dog
Neapolitan Mastiff
New Zealand Huntaway
Newfoundland
Norfolk Terrier
Norrbottenspets
Northern Inuit
Norwegian Buhund
Norwegian Elkhound
Norwegian Lundehund
Norwich Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever
Old Danish Pointer
Old English Sheepdog
Old English Terrier
Old German Shepherd
Old Time Farm Shepherd
Olde English Bulldogge
Otterhound
Pachon Navarro
Papillon
Parson Russell Terrier
Patterdale Terrier
Pekingese
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Perro de Presa Canario
Perro de Presa Mallorquin
Peruvian Hairless
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Petit Bleu de Gascogne
Phalène
Pharaoh Hound
Phu Quoc ridgeback
Picardy Spaniel
Pit Bull Terrier
Plott Hound
Podenco Canario
Pointer
Polish Greyhound
Polish Hound
Polish Hunting
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Polish Tatra Sheepdog
Pomeranian
Pont-Audemer Spaniel
Poodle
Porcelaine
Portuguese Podengo
Portuguese Pointer
Portuguese Water Dog
Posavac Hound
Pražský Krysarík
Pudelpointer
Pug
Puli
Pumi
Pungsan
Pyrenean Mastiff
Pyrenean Shepherd
Rafeiro do Alentejo
Rajapalayam
Rampur Greyhound
Rat Terrier
Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz
Redbone Coonhound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Rough Collie
Russian Spaniel
Russian Toy
Russo-European Laika
Saarlooswolfhond
Sabueso Español
Saint Bernard
Saint-Usuge Spaniel
Sakhalin Husky
Saluki
Samoyed
Sapsali
Sarplaninac
Schapendoes
Schillerstövare
Schipperke
Schnauzer
Schweizer Laufhund
Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund
Scotch Collie
Scottish Deerhound
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Segugio Italiano
Seppala Siberian Sleddog
Serbian Hound
Serbian Tricolour Hound
Shar Pei
Shetland Sheepdog
Shiba Inu
Shih Tzu
Shikoku
Shiloh Shepherd
Siberian Husky
Silken Windhound
Silky Terrier
Sinhala Hound
Skye Terrier
Sloughi
Slovak Cuvac
Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer
Slovenský Kopov
Smålandsstövare
Small Greek Domestic
Small Münsterländer
Smooth Collie
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
South Russian Ovcharka
Spanish Mastiff
Spanish Water Dog
Spinone Italiano
Sporting Lucas Terrier
Stabyhoun
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Stephens Cur
Styrian Coarse-haired Hound
Sussex Spaniel
Swedish Lapphund
Swedish Vallhund
Taigan
Tamaskan
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
Telomian
Tennessee Treeing Brindle
Tenterfield Terrier
Thai Bangkaew
Thai Ridgeback
Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
Tornjak
Tosa
Toy Fox Terrier
Toy Manchester Terrier
Transylvanian Hound
Treeing Walker Coonhound
Trigg Hound
Tyrolean Hound
Utonagan
Vizsla
Volpino Italiano
Weimaraner
Welsh Sheepdog
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
West Siberian Laika
Westphalian Dachsbracke
Wetterhoun
Whippet
White English Bulldog
White Shepherd
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Wirehaired Vizsla
Yorkshire Terrier